Blazers Urged to Keep Deni Avdija Out of Any Jalen Brown Deal

A Walla Sports report says American NBA discussion is increasingly focused on a possible Portland move for Boston star Jalen Brown. In a column for Rip City Project, blogger Jack Simon argued that the Trail Blazers would benefit from adding Brown, but not at the cost of Deni Avdija.

Simon wrote that if Portland pursues Brown, there is “no reason” for Avdija to be included. He noted that in the NBA “nothing is guaranteed,” citing Dallas’ decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, but insisted Portland should not give up Avdija in any Brown deal, “even if Milwaukee demands it.”

The report describes a potential three-team structure in which Giannis Antetokounmpo would go to Boston, Brown would go to Portland, and Milwaukee would receive a package of young players and draft picks. Simon said Milwaukee must maximize its return if it moves a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber, even if that means extracting draft picks and possibly an additional young player from Boston before Brown is rerouted elsewhere.

He added that Milwaukee will “almost certainly” ask for Avdija because of his strong contract, but Portland must refuse. Instead, he suggested the Blazers could offer either Jrue Holiday or Jerami Grant plus another young player, while Milwaukee would likely want at least one of its own draft picks back from Portland from the Damian Lillard trade. Brown, who is coming off the best season of his career, is on a $183 million, three-year deal and has also been linked to Atlanta. No responses had been published.